The desert safari in UAE is all about enjoying the experience of the shifting sands of Abu Dhabi to the glorious sunsets over the majestic horizons of Dubai. It is one of the best sought after holiday destinations of the magical middle east. Safaris are one of the most exciting adventurous activities as you get to ride the sand on a jeep that often goes topsy turvy. As the safari ends, the camel ride begins and ends with a henna tattoo, sand boarding and a lot more.
Desert Safari In UAE: Top 6 Places To Enjoy The Best Of Thrilling Activities
Safaris are one of the most adventurous activities tourists from around the world should experience and enjoy at least once in their lifetime. If you haven’t been on a safari yet, then you should go on a desert safari in UAE.
1. Al Lahbab Desert, Dubai
Al Lahbab Desert is a great choice for dune bashing, sandboarding, enjoying a lovely BBQ Meal and Bedouin style camp. The sand of the desert is one of the most preferred choices for desert safari in UAE. The red desert dunes make it the perfect experience one will never forget. Al Lahbab is named after a small village and is one the best places to visit in UAE. Tourists will get to experience the rural culture of UAE.
Location: 50 kms outside Dubai
2. Jebel Maleihah, U.A.E
Jebel Maleihah, situated on the road connecting Sharjah and Kalba is well known as the fossil rock. What makes it unique and stand out from the rest is that tourists can find marine fossils here. One of the reasons for these fossils is because U.A.E was located under the Tethys ocean. One of the amazing structure close to this point is the camel rock (shaped like a camel).
Location: Road connecting Sharjah and Kalba
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3. Liwa Desert, Rub Al Khali
The Liwa Desert is the preferred destination for experienced dune bashers. It is situated near the Rub Al Khali; it has the highest dunes and is known for hosting several festivals and challenges. It is a busy desert because of the soft sand and thrill of competition. It is home to at least 50 villages and is rich in desert culture. You could get a chance to explore the desert village at its best in this life.
Location: Rub Al Khali
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4. Bidayer, Sharjah, UAE
Bidayer is called the “Big Red” because of its terracotta red color. The majestic sand dune is ideal for dune bashing and quad bike riding, which makes it famous among the adventurous people. It is will be perfect for a 1st time driver as it is quite easy. The changing colors of the sand from yellow to red is astounding as each day passes.
Location: Sharjah, U.A.E
5. Rub Al Khali, UAE
Rub Al Khali is known as the empty quarter and is the biggest contiguous sand desert in the world. It is spread over 650,000 square kms and its beauty is a sight to behold and explore in either a jeep or camelback. It will take about 2 hours and half hours to reach Abu Dhabi to explore the place. It is rich in geological formations and is known for its oases and water fountains.
Location: UAE
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6. Al Faya Desert, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The gentle sloping dunes in the Al Faya Desert, is ideal for dune bashing, even if you're just a beginner. It is known for the best UAE desert safari, besides being perfect for camping. Tourists will be endless stretches of sands. What more can one ask for? Enjoy the sand dunes on camel back or in a jeep. It is a once in a life time experience.
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Timings for Desert Safari UAE
Morning Safari
If you are up before sunrise, then you will be in for the best treat of your life as the weather is the coolest, early hours of the day. It makes the morning desert safari in U.A.E, one of the most refreshing experiences to remember for a long time. One of the best sights to behold is watching the sun rise over the sand dunes. Click the scenic beauty with a camera, to make it memorable and of course to make your friends jealous. Tourists can enjoy the perfect hot air balloon ride and be amazed with the sea of gold. some of the amazing activities tourists and enjoy are quad bikes, camel rides and sandboarding. The safari in the mornings is around 4-5 hours, which can be increased if the tour guide agrees.
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All Day Safari
Tourists are in luck as they get to experience each phase of the desert, right from the cool morning sunrise to the sun setting in the evening. Belly dancing is an activity that is often enjoyed with the perfect dinner. It is a continuation of the morning desert safari in U.A.E. If you are not too keen on doing it, then you can always tell guide to skip it. As a tourist, one should always take advantage of the hot air balloon rides. It will be the perfect end to the perfect day.
Evening Safari
If early morning is not something you want to do, or rather not your cup of tea, then evening desert safari in UAE is another option. You will get to enjoy the sun setting on a camel ride, over a dune or in a jeep. The safari will begin in the afternoon and will be a 6-7 safari. Drinks and dinner will be at campsite. Most guides include a drink in the form of a shisha and will have vegetarian and non-vegetarian options as well. Hence, when paying the desert safari UAE price, be sure to choose wisely. Desert safari will be a once in a life time experience. It is not something people who are weak hearted should do or rather the non-adventurous kinds.
Overnight Safari
Sitting under the starry sky on the cool sands and watching the sand shine under the white glow of the moon. Haven’t you ever wanted to have such a magical experience? The time varies, but to have a magical experience, the best time would need 10 hours. You will definitely experience the desert like never before and discover the various activities during this safari. The photoshoot is one of the best parts of a safari, which of course is in traditional attire and resting in a Bedouin style bed. The cherry on the cake is getting to see both sunset and sunrise.
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Must Do Things during Desert Safari in UAE
Quad Biking
Quad Biking is an optional activity offered to people. It is expensive and of course due to shortage of time, the tourist guide may not even mention it. It is recommended to tourists to give quad biking a try as it is ideal when looking for an adrenaline rush. It is one of the best things to do in UAE as the dunes of the desert is an absolute treat like no other. As beginners, you will have a fantastic time as your guide will help you maneuver through the desert.
Camel Ride
Discover the UAE deserts the traditional manner on the “ship of the sea”. Get on top of a camel and make your dream of traveling the middle east come true. Camel ride is one of the biggest attractions in Dubai. Riding a camel brings the pleasures of the desert a comfortable pace contrary to a jerky ride of a Hummer.
Sand Boarding
Snowboarding is no longer the craze as the new thing everyone wants to try is sandboarding. Sandboarding is sloping down a sand dune on a board. It can be tried on gentle slops and the best part is one doesn’t need to an expert in this sport. For the experts, UAE provides of the biggest sand dunes that go as high as 300m.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Hot air balloon rides are highly popular among tourists and the locals. The best time for this activity is during sunrise, but if you like you can even enjoy the ride in the evening along with dinner at the campsite. It is most the most amazing ways to travel and discover the desert as you glide the air watching the desert below you.
Bedouin Night
If you’ve chosen a night stay, then do in a Bedouin style camp. The name of a tribe of travelers in the middle east is called Bedouin. The tribe seem to have mastered the art of luxury camps and beds as they travel all the time. Some of the best desert safari UAE will take tourists to camps that have been set up permanently and entertain them each day. The camps capture the Bedouin lifestyle as much as possible.
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Things to keep in mind
- Pets are not allowed on the safari
- Wear clothes that cover you completely, sunglasses and a hat protect you from the desert heat
- Ensure the desert safari is insured the minute they pick you till they drop you back to your hotel
- Kids below the age of 3 are not permitted
- Pregnant women and those with back problems are not allowed on the safari
- Any other physical condition that could be aggravated due to jerks, shocks or heat, consult your doctor before the desert safari.
- Take your camera along as the guide will stop the vehicle on top of the dune for you to take pictures.
- Ensure you are fit as a fiddle as you will be going off the road
- Avoid sandboarding and quad biking in the afternoon as the desert is burning hot
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The desert safari in UAE is an amazing experience that enriches one’s knowledge about the lifestyle of the royals and the locals of the middle east. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so book your flights to UAE and enjoy every moment. The best time for a safari is during the summers, which is Nov- March. Besides the safari, tourists can even enjoy diving and shopping.
FAQs
Desert safari UAE is one of the most important ideas for excursion. It is known for dune bashing which is riding through the irregular sandy terrains. While on vacation, travelers enjoy some of the best Arab delicacies and entertainment shows.
Fun filled and excitement are two things a traveler should expect when preparing for a desert safari trip. If you are thinking of such a trip, then look up for some of the ideal packages for desert safaris. You will have a safe pick up and drop off by professional trained drivers. Outdoor activities are an amazing and most interesting part of a desert safari.
There are 3 kinds of safari’s: morning, evening and overnight safari which include camel rides, dune bashing, quad biking and much more.
Safety depends on the reliability of the driver you chose for desert safari facilitation in Dubai. If you choose a safari to cater to its audience and customer, come with safety, affordability and transparency. So, to answer the question, desert safari is completely safe as the drivers are absolute professionals. There is nothing to worry about.
The morning desert safari takes about 3-4 hour with extra time for fun activities. The evening desert safari will take about 6 hours which include transportation time. So, you can choose accordingly.
The attire for a desert safari includes wearing a wear light clothes like T-shirts and trousers. Men can carry jackets during the winters while women can wear pashmina or cardi over a blouse or T-shirts. Flat sandals are the preferred foot wear for a desert safari.
The desert safari has various timings, depending on which one you choose. There are basically two timings, which include:
- Morning Desert Safari: 8:30 am till 11:30 am.
- Evening Desert Safari: 3:30 pm till 9:30 pm.
- Overnight Desert Safari: 3:30 pm to 9:00 am the next day
One of the major attractions in Dubai is the Desert safari. The two places at present for a desert safari is Lahbab and Al Awir. Depending on the traffic, it will take at 40-50 minutes to reach the deserts.
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